Pioneers In Aviation: The Race To The Moon

The War Years

The War Years documents the 1930s and 40s, as the clouds of war once again began to gather over Europe. With all of Western Europe a German stronghold by the summer of 1940, and England under attack, President Roosevelt calls upon the captains of his Aviation Industry-declaring that America must become "the Arsenal of Democracy. " Under Donald Douglas's leadership, and Dutch Kindelberger's guidance, the U.S. aviation industry unites to tackle the biggest production job in industrial history. With Boeing, Douglas, and North American Aviation factories working around the clock, they produce some of the most legendary aircraft in American history-giving the Allies air supremacy in both the European and Pacific theaters and, ultimately, victory in World War II. Highlights include: Newly discovered footage of the Second World War's most storied military operation: the 1942 Doolittle/Tokyo Raid, flown by North American Aviation's B-25 "Mitchell bomber." Newly discovered footage of Jimmy Doolittle's triumphant return to North American Aviation to share his victory with Dutch Kindelberger and the North American employees. Newly recovered newsreel footage from the1940s, offering a rare glimpse inside the wartime factories at Boeing, Douglas, and North American Aviation. A Lowell Thomas-narrated World War II newsreel of the legendary North American P-51 Mustang in the skies over Berlin.

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